Miss USA 1968 was the 17th Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS from Miami Beach, Florida on May 18, 1968 hosted by Bob Barker. The pageant was won by Dorothy Anstett of Washington, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Cheryl Patton of Florida. Anstett was the first – and to date only – woman from Washington to win the Miss USA title, and went on to place as 4th runner-up at Miss Universe 1968. Results Placements Special awards Historical significance Washington wins competition for the first time. Also becoming in the 15th state who does it for the first time. Maryland earns the 1st runner-up position for the first time and reaches the highest position since Mary Leona Gage initially won in 1957. Nevada earns the 2nd runner-up position for the third time. The last time it placed this was in 1961. Louisiana earns the 3rd runner-up position for the first time and reaches the highest position since Sharon Brown won in 1961. New Mexico earns the 4th runner-up position for the first time. States that placed in semifinals the previous year were Alabama, California, Maryland, Nevada, Tennessee and Virginia. California placed for the twelfth consecutive year. Maryland and Tennessee placed for the third consecutive year. Alabama, Nevada and Virginia made their second consecutive placement. Connecticut, Hawaii, New York and Ohio last placed in 1966. New Mexico and Michigan last placed in 1965. Louisiana last placed in 1961. Arkansas last placed in 1959. Washington last placed in 1958. Florida breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1966. Arizona breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1965. Texas breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1964. District of Columbia breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1962. Delegates Alabama - Claudia Robinson Alaska - Sharon Long Arizona - Shirley Sprague Arkansas - Ann Smithwick California - Suzanne Fromm Colorado - Ann Bell Connecticut - Janice Shilinsky Delaware - Diane Parker District of Columbia - Dianne Mothershead Florida - Leslie Bauer Georgia - Midge Ivie Hawaii - Carol Seymour Idaho - Anna Evanson Illinois - Sandra Wolsfeld Indiana - Nikki Peck Iowa - Markie Anderson Kansas - Anne Layton Kentucky - Julia Pinkley Louisiana - Kathy Hebert Maine - Cheryl Campell Maryland - Paulette Reck Massachusetts - Sonia Prince Michigan - Virginia Clift Minnesota - Arlene Larson Mississippi - Brenda Conerly Missouri - Jan Barton Montana - Christina Baker Nebraska -